THE TIME-HONORED practice of remembering our deceased loved ones and the saints – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day – has turned into a de facto feast of litterbugs. Cemetery guests leave tons of trash on what is supposed to be sacred ground.
We are all being challenged to break away from the “traditional” littering at cemeteries and other disrespectful acts. Let us mark Nov. 1 and 2 as prayerful instead of making it a wasteful occasion. Cemeteries are a hallowed ground, not a dumping ground for leftovers and disposables.
Take the saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” to heart when visiting cemeteries. Our dearly departed ones deserve nothing less than a clean resting place.
How do we do this?
The most effective way of preventing garbage overload is by avoiding the generation of trash in the first place. This will require the conscious decision by families and individuals to consume responsibly, avoid single-use plastics and other disposables and not leave piles of rubbish in the cemeteries.
There are practical steps to
reduce waste and pollution in cemeteries and their environs. The EcoWaste Coalition,
for example, has come out with reminders: Don’t litter, dump or burn trash in
the cemetery. Choose lead-safe paints for repainting tombs. Offer local fresh
flowers, not plastic ones, and refrain from wrapping them in plastic. Pick
clean-burning candles, and shun those with poisonous lead-cored wicks.
Avoid making noise or playing loud music in the cemetery. Pack meals and drinks
in reusable containers. Bring just enough food to avoid spoilage or wastage.
Avoid single-use plastics and go for reusable bags, food and beverage
containers, and cutlery. Don’t smoke or vape in the cemetery. Bring all
discards home, including leftovers, and do not leave any trash behind.
All these are not hard to follow. Together, let us make this year’s observance
of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day more respectful and less wasteful
compared to previous years.